Wichita eagle., 1887-05-11

Francois, am dying!' And now they wer,
not so much alone as they had been. Gradually
the settlement had crept boldly from the Des
ert, up the river and back into the country
and now in days journey there were many
| families; ON the Bras dor, Dubois and Gran
den; on the Claire, Charbonneau and Fau
bert; and on the Castor, McMorran-White
| McMorran, to distinguish him from hi:
| brother, who, however, was never called
Black McMorran-and the Phelans and
| O'Dohertys.
The Castor, where there were no beavers
| but only broken dams, was five miles from
| the Baskatonge. There was path through
the woods, and an hour and a quarter would
| take a good walker from the Baskatonge te
the McMorrans'. Octave Ducharme could
walk that distance easily in an hour, but then
few could walk as fast as Octave.
Already the McMorrans' place began to
look like farm; there were always fires eat
ing into the bush, and the small barn was
getting too small.
The Ducharmes were favorites with their
neighbors. Octave always did most of the
talking: and, as Francois was quick tenn
pered, be had sometimes to step forward and
take the lead in conversation that would
have surely ended in blows. 1t was seldom
that this ever happened as the general say
ing was, fight one Ducharme, fight two, "
and so Francois hot words usually passed IN
noticed. But Octave was SO good tempered
that the balance was kept even.
The brothers seemed so entirely as
one that the people were not surprised when
they learned in after years that they had
both fallen in love with the same girl. 1t
semed quite natural; and then, ''you couldn't
blame them. for every one was in love with
Keila McNlorran."
There was some things about it, though,
that NOBODY could understand.
zone Of them didn't know the other was in
love with her."
together. and they'd walk off home like two
lambsn
''That couldn't last you know"
''No, and it didn't last
This was the general drift of the remarks
the neighbors made when they commenced
to talk on the subject. It was an ever re-
curing topic Of conversation, and never was
settled to the satisfaction of every one, al
though some had decided for themselves.
However these talks commenced, they
always ended in one way. There would be a
pause, then the words would come slowly, as
if the speakers were dreaming of form they
could not forget.
''Strongs believe he could lift an OK"
"Yes; and he was the best chopper on the
river"
.And what a man on the drive"
"And kind hearted
"Humph'
poor Octave.'
1t was bright August morning, and Fran
co.'s was sitting at his door smoking. He was
watching squirrel that was seated at the
root of tree, twirling something between his
front feet, when small, tattered boy, with
wide, frightened eyes that turned to all sides
as if he expected to be pounced on by some
hidden enemy, came toward him from the
bush. Francois turned and spoke to him.
He answered:
"I-I-want Octave"
"Gone away"
But | must see Octave
Cant"
"But | must"
"Can't; gone away"
as he going to come back''
"To-nght"
But | must see him before to night. i
have to tell him something
Cant; homo tonight. Tell me-
1t was the youngest of the McMorran boys
Tim He could not understand Francois's
French, and Francois could speak but little
English.
II can't tell you Viii YOU tell Octavoi7
"Yes.D
"Well when was fishing last night, down
by the bank, two fellows came and talked
near where was, and heard them, and one
of the Phelan boys IS going to shoot Octave
tonight
"To shoot Octave" Froncois jumped to his
feet "Why:"
Because our keiia won't marry him, and
he thinks she's going to marry Octave
"When.'
Il don't know"
ITO shoot Octave-when:'
Tonight, down at the old road"
"Win you tell Octave!
"No,"-in tone that set Tins teeth
Yes, yes yes; 60 home" The
small boy ran away, but was soon stealing
back "Will-will-you tell Octave!'
Yes; so home"
Francois thought long time, and
hen began TO throw chips at the squir
rel that was hanging head downward half
way up the tree.
1t was twilight; and down where the path
rom the Ducharmes' Joined the old road a
igure crouching in the bushes held a gun,
teadied in the low crotch of shrub and
pointed right across his path. His jaws
we're tightly locked, and whenever he cbanced |
o open them his teeth chartered as if the |
warm evening breeze that just stirred the |
pushes was a blast from the north Every |
low and then his whole body shook convul- |
lively and the gun ratified in the forked |
,ranch He was listening for step in the |
'ath. Now he thought he heard it, and |
lrew himself together with great effort; but |
was some other sound in the woods. ]
lie noticed nothing stirring tehind him; |
nd when a collie, with an angry growl, |
umped out into the path and ran away, |
With its tail between its legs, the cold |
weat burst out on his face and hands |
'ut now he could make no mlstake-tbere |
vas some one coming, and he buddled over
he gun. The twigs were cracking in the still /
ir, and he thought be could hear the bushes |
way: but before he could I've sure there was |
grip on his neck like vice, and his hands |
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